十万个为什么·科学启蒙30篇（2）
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How Do Fireflies Produce Cold Light?
萤火虫如何发出冷光？
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Fireflies make light through a chemical reaction called bioluminescence, not heat.
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A substance called luciferin reacts with oxygen, aided by an enzyme named luciferase.
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This process releases almost all its energy as visible light, not infrared heat.
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Because very little heat is produced, scientists call it 'cold light'.
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Each firefly species flashes a unique pattern to attract mates in the dark.
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Scientists study this reaction to develop safer medical imaging tools for humans.
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Unlike light bulbs, firefly light needs no electricity and creates zero waste heat.
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Researchers have even inserted firefly genes into plants to make them glow softly.
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The color of the light depends on slight changes in the luciferase protein structure.
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Nature’s cold-light system remains far more efficient than most human-made LEDs today.